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{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Majboor
| name          = Majboor
| image          =  
| image          = Majboor (1974) film poster.jpeg
| image_size    =
| caption        =  
| caption        =  
| director      = [[Ravi Tandon]]
| director      = [[Ravi Tandon]]
| producer      = Premji
| producer      = Premji
| writer        = [[Salim–Javed]]
| writer        = [[Salim-Javed]]
| narrator      =  
| narrator      =  
| starring      = [[Amitabh Bachchan]]<br/>[[Shaan (1980 film)|Parveen Babi]]<br/>[[Pran]]<br/>[[Farida Jalal]]<br/>[[Sulochana Latkar]]<br/>[[Satyen Kappu]]<br/>[[Iftekhar]]<br/>[[Jagdish Raj]]<br/>[[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]]
| starring      = [[Amitabh Bachchan]]<br/>[[Parveen Babi]]<br/>[[Pran (actor)|Pran]]<br/>[[Farida Jalal]]<br/>[[Sulochana Latkar]]<br/>[[D. K. Sapru]]<br/>[[Iftekhar]]<br/>[[Satyen Kappu]]<br/>[[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]]<br/>[[Mac Mohan]]
| music          = [[Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]
| music          = [[Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]
| cinematography =  
| cinematography =  
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| studio        =  
| studio        =  
| distributor    = {{ubl|Suchitha Films Pvt. Ltd|[[Eros International]]}}
| distributor    = {{ubl|Suchitha Films Pvt. Ltd|[[Eros International]]}}
| released      = 6 December 1974
| released      = {{Film date|df=y|1974|12|06}}
| runtime        =  
| runtime        =  
| country        = [[India]]
| country        = [[India]]
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| gross          =  
| gross          =  
}}
}}
'''''Majboor''''' (translation: ''Compelled'') is a [[List of Hindi films of 1974|1974]] [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[Hindi]]-language [[Thriller film|suspense thriller]] film directed by [[Ravi Tandon]] and written by Salim-Javed. Released in [[India]] on 6 December 1974, the film stars an [[ensemble cast]] of [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Shaan (1980 film)|Parveen Babi]], [[Pran]], [[Farida Jalal]], [[Sulochana Latkar]], [[Satyen Kappu]], [[Iftekhar]], [[Jagdish Raj]] and [[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]]. The music was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
'''''Majboor''''' ({{translation|'''''Compelled'''''}}) is a [[List of Hindi films of 1974|1974]] [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]]-language [[Action film|action thriller film]] directed by [[Ravi Tandon]]. Written by [[Salim-Javed]] ([[Salim Khan]] and [[Javed Akhtar]]), the film is loosely inspired by two 1970 [[American cinema|American]] films – ''[[Zig Zag (1970 film)|Zig Zag]]'' and ''[[Cold Sweat (1970 film)|Cold Sweat]]''. It stars an [[ensemble cast]] of [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Parveen Babi]], [[Pran (actor)|Pran]], [[Farida Jalal]], [[Sulochana Latkar]], [[D. K. Sapru]], [[Iftekhar]], [[Satyen Kappu]], [[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]], and [[Mac Mohan]]. Salim-Javed had initially narrated the story of ''Majboor'' to [[Ramesh Sippy]], who liked it but wanted to make a film on a larger scale, and it was Tandon who agreed to do and Sippy later made ''[[Sholay]]'' (1975) with the writer duo. The music was composed by [[Laxmikant-Pyarelal]] and the lyrics were penned by [[Anand Bakshi]].


The film is loosely inspired by two [[English]] films of 1970 - ''Zig Zag'' and ''Cold Sweat''. The film was later remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] by director K. Raghavendra Rao as ''Raja'' (1976) starring Shobhan Babu and [[Jayasudha]], in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as [[Naan Vazhavaippen]] (1979) with Sivaji Ganeshan and [[K. R. Vijaya]] , in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] as ''Naseeb No Khel'' (1982) and in [[Malayalam]] as ''[[Ee Kaikalil]]'' (1986).<ref>Ramachandran, Naman, ''Rajnikanth: The Definitive Biography''. India: Penguin Books (2012).</ref> The film was also an inspiration for the 2008 film ''[[Jimmy (2008 film)|Jimmy]]''.
''Majboor'' released on 6 December 1974, opening to positive reviews. A [[box office]] hit,<ref>[http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=180&catName=MTk3NA== Box Office India] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922021128/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=180&catName=MTk3NA%3D%3D |date=22 September 2012 }}</ref> the film was later remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] by director [[K. Raghavendra Rao]] as ''Raja'' (1976), in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Naan Vazhavaippen]]'' (1979) and in [[Malayalam]] as ''[[Ee Kaikalil]]'' (1986).<ref>Ramachandran, Naman, ''Rajnikanth: The Definitive Biography''. India: Penguin Books (2012).</ref> The film was also an inspiration for the 2008 film ''[[Jimmy (2008 film)|Jimmy]]''.


== Plot ==
==Plot==
Ravi Khanna ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]) is a middle-class travel agent leading a simple life with his elderly mother ([[Sulochana Latkar]]), wheelchair-bound sister, Renu ([[Farida Jalal]]), and young brother, Billu (Alankar Joshi), while his girlfriend, Neela Rajvansh ([[Shaan (1980 film)|Parveen Babi]]), is the only daughter of a wealthy businessman ([[D. K. Sapru]]). One fine day, Ravi's travel agency is visited by two detectives, CID Inspector Khurana ([[Iftekhar]]) and Inspector Kulkarni ([[Jagdish Raj]]), for interrogation regarding the disappearance of a man, Surendra Sinha ([[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]]), who was last seen visiting Ravi's travel agency and was later apparently kidnapped. A flashback shows that Surendra Sinha had come in late on a rainy night, just before closing, to pick up the tickets that had been reserved for him, when Ravi had noticed a large emerald ring on Surendra Sinha's finger as the latter had impatiently tapped the counter while Ravi looked for the ticket. After leaving the premises, there was not a single taxi to be seen by Ravi as it had been raining heavily and that is when Surendra Sinha had offered Ravi a lift in his car till the crossroads near Ravi's house. In the present, Ravi is horrified to learn from Khurana that Surendra Sinha's dead body has been just recovered from a gutter, and it is evident that he was murdered the same night he was kidnapped, which is why no one had come forward to claim the initial ransom demand.  
Ravi Khanna ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]) is a [[Commoner|common man]] working as a [[Travel agency|travel agent]] and living happily with his [[widow]]ed mother ([[Sulochana Latkar]]), [[wheelchair]]-using sister, Renu ([[Farida Jalal]]), and younger brother, Billu (Alankar Joshi). He is also due to get married with his girlfriend, Neela ([[Parveen Babi]]), who is the only daughter of a wealthy man, Mr. Rajvansh ([[D. K. Sapru]]). One night, a wealthy client, Surendra Sinha ([[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]]), visits Ravi's office to collect the [[Airline ticket|air tickets]] that have been reserved for him. Ravi notices a large [[emerald]] [[Ring (jewellery)|ring]] on the [[finger]] of Surendra, who also proceeds to offer a lift in his car to him as it has been raining heavily. Later, Ravi learns from the police that Surendra was apparently [[Kidnapping|kidnapped]] that same night, and that the kidnappers have demanded a [[ransom]] of [[Indian rupee|₹]]5 [[lakh]]s from Surendra's younger brother, Narendra Sinha ([[Satyen Kappu]]). Narendra has agreed to pay the ransom to save his brother, but there is no news about Surendra again. Six months later, [[Criminal Investigation Department (India)|CID]] [[Inspector]] Khurana ([[Iftekhar]]) and Inspector Kulkarni ([[Jagdish Raj]]) shockingly discover Surendra's [[Cadaver|dead body]] in a [[Street gutter|gutter]] and visit Ravi's office for [[interrogation]] regarding the murder. Ravi is innocent, but nervous for Khurana and Kulkarni taking a keen interest in him, since he is the last known person to have met Surendra. He believes himself to be having an [[alibi]] and seeks legal advice from his [[lawyer]] friend, [[Advocate]] P. V. Rane (Shiv Kumar), for being a simple man with a family to be taken care of, and not willing to deal with the police and the courts.  


Despite Khurana's reassurance that it is quite a routine matter, Ravi is nervous and believes himself to be having an alibi for Khurana and Kulkarni taking a keen interest in him, since he is the last known person to have seen Surendra Sinha, and seeks legal advice from his childhood friend, Rane (Shiv Kumar), who is a lawyer. However, the stress seems to be triggering severe intense headaches and Ravi ends up at the place of Dr. Shah (Sajjan), where he explains that he has had minor headaches earlier which he had ignored, but the pain has now intensified these past few days, and the headaches last for a couple of minutes each time. After being sent by Dr. Shah for a brain X-Ray, the shocking diagnosis is far more serious than tension as Ravi has a brain tumour that needs to be removed and if not, will cause his death in six months, while there is no guarantee that he will not be blind or even paraplegic as the outcome. Ravi is aghast as he is the sole provider to his family and cannot contemplate a life where he becomes a burden on them, so he leaves without making a decision when the choices are death and a life worse than death. Ravi returns home, deep in thought, and his family's affection and their implicit trust in his ability to take care of them only serve to increase his conflict.  
However, the stress seems to be triggering several [[headache]]s which causes Ravi intense pain for a couple of minutes. After a second episode, he takes it seriously enough to visit Dr. Shah ([[Sajjan (actor)|Sajjan]]) and undergoes an [[X-ray]] of his [[brain]]. The shocking [[diagnosis]] is that Ravi has a [[brain tumour]] that needs to be extracted immediately through a [[brain surgery]], and if not, will cause his death within six months. Ravi is willing to undergo the brain surgery, but Dr. Shah states that it could either cure him completely, or could result in very unintended side-effects from [[Visual impairment|blindness]] to [[Mental disorder|mental illness]] to [[paralysis]]. Ravi is shattered for having many responsibilities on his mother, sister, and brother, and feels that he neither has the right to die nor become a burden on them. As a result, Ravi leaves without making a decision when the choices are death and a life worse than death. At the same time, he receives the interesting [[news]] of the grieving Narendra having declared a handsome [[Bounty (reward)|reward]] of ₹5 lakhs (which he was previously ready to pay to his brother's kidnappers) to the person who will help him capture Surendra's murderer. In an attempt to better his family's financial conditions after him, Ravi comes up with a scheme to frame himself for Surendra's murder and collect the reward money for his family, justifying that he has nothing to lose himself and is going to die in six months nevertheless. He [[Anonymity|anonymously]] calls Khurana at the [[police station]] as an [[Informant|informer]] about Surendra's murder, who declares Ravi as the culprit and instructs the police to deposit the money at the office of his [[solicitor]], Rane. As a result, a desperate Narendra agrees to pay out the reward after Khurana informs him about the anonymous [[telephone call]].  


The next morning, at work, Ravi receives the interesting news of Surendra Sinha's grieving younger brother, Narendra Sinha ([[Satyen Kappu]]), having declared a handsome reward of five [[lakh]] [[Indian rupee|rupees]] for any information about his brother's killer. In an effort to better his family's financial conditions after him, Ravi telephones Khurana at the police station without revealing his identity and poses as an informer about Surendra Sinha's murder, in a scheme to frame "himself" as the murderer and collect the reward money for his family, believing that he has nothing to lose and is going to die in six months nevertheless. Surendra Sinha's brother, Narendra Sinha, is ready to pay out the reward after learning about the anonymous caller from Khurana, who also tells him that money has to be paid to a lawyer whom the caller suggests, while a sealed envelope will be deposited with the same lawyer. Once the money is paid, the caller will inform the police over a telephone call who the killer is, and will provide the evidence as well. Narendra Sinha is willing to go through with the proposal. Now that his proposal has been accepted, Ravi meticulously sets the stage, even leaving sealed instructions and a cover letter with Rane, who is rather bewildered at the cloak-and-dagger stuff, until Khurana telephones at his office to confirm that the money mentioned in the covering letter will be entrusted to him.  
Meanwhile, Ravi also sends an anonymous [[Letter (message)|letter]] at Rane's office, instructing him to open the letter and follow its instructions only after Surendra's killer has been sentenced by the court. He also plants [[circumstantial evidence]] (his burnt [[shirt]], [[cigarette]] butts, pieces of [[rope]] and an [[iron]] rod with his [[fingerprint]]s) to prove that Ravi kidnapped Surendra, brought him to an isolated place, and then killed him with an iron rod. Acting upon the received information, Khurana and Kulkarni recover the evidence and [[arrest]] Ravi after fingerprint testing. During the trial, Ravi falsely confesses in the court that he kidnapped Surendra for the ransom of ₹5 lakhs, tied him up at the isolated place, and when Surendra tried to escape, he accidentally killed him and threw his dead body off in the gutter. As a result, Ravi is sentenced to death by the court, devastating his family, Neela and her father. Moreover, Ravi's mother and Neela's attempts to make some sense out of Ravi's confession and also request Narendra for [[clemency]] fail miserably. However, things take a drastic turn when Ravi suffers from another headache episode in [[prison]] and is rushed by Khurana and Kulkarni to the [[hospital]], where, serendipitously, it is Dr. Shah who examines him. Aware of Ravi's [[medical history]], Dr. Shah wastes no time in performing an emergency surgery of his brain, which miraculously ends up a successful with no side-effects. Nevertheless, it is too late now as Ravi is now a [[Conviction|convicted]] criminal for kidnapping, ransom and murder, which he planted on himself.  


Acting upon the received information, Khurana and Kulkarni recover the evidence that Ravi has created against himself and it is sent to the laboratory for fingerprint testing. Soon, Ravi is arrested by Kulkarni for the murder of Surendra Sinha and is sentenced to death for the crime by the [[Supreme Court of India]], much to the consternation of his family, and that of Neela and her father. While Neela and Ravi's mother try to make some sense of Ravi's confession, also approach Narendra Sinha to beg for clemency, Ravi's another intense headache in prison results in him being rushed to the government hospital by Khurana and Kulkarni, where, serendipitously, it is Dr. Shah who examines him. Knowing Ravi's medical history, Dr. Shah wastes no time in getting him into the operation theatre, and the brain surgery is miraculously successful with no side-effects, but Dr. Shah is shattered to learn that he saved the patient on the operating table only to see him hung for murder. Well-aware of having condemned himself to be hung for a murder he did not commit, Ravi, during a permitted meeting with Neela and Rane at the hospital, asks Rane if he could appeal and tell the truth in the court, since the envelope he left anonymously in Rane's care will confirm his story after all. However, Rane's response tells Ravi that he is his friend as well as his lawyer, so the court would not believe anything he says, and that the only way for Ravi to escape the consequences of his ill-advised actions is to now find the real murderer of Surendra Sinha.  
Two months later, Ravi summons Neela and Rane for a permitted meeting at the hospital and confesses about his innocence. However, Rane states that now there is no way out and that they will need fresh evidence to reopen the case. In an attempt to save himself from execution, Ravi successfully escapes from the hospital on the mission to search for Surendra's real murderer and is aided by Neela in his pursuit. The couple escapes to a hotel to safety, where Ravi meets a wealthy man, Mahipat Rai ([[Madan Puri]]), who has a girlfriend, Madhu (Sabina), despite being married to a [[millionaire]] wife, Sulakshana (Lalita Kumari). Ravi notices that Mahipat is shockingly wearing the same ring he had noticed on Surendra's finger. On being questioned by Ravi, Mahipat reveals that the ring was sold to him by a curio shop owner, Prakash ([[Mac Mohan]]). With the help of Prakash, Ravi traces the origin of the ring to Michael D'Souza ([[Pran (actor)|Pran]]), a kind-hearted and happy-go-lucky professional [[Theft|thief]], whom Prakash had purchased the ring from. Ravi meets Michael and confronts him over Surendra's ring, when Michael confesses of stealing the ring but claims to be the sole [[witness]] to Surendra's murder. On that rainy night, Michael had prevented the way of a car with a man driving and another man sleeping on the [[Car seat|backseat]], and had threatened the driving man at [[Coercion|gunpoint]]. The driving man claimed that the sleeping man is his friend, who is sick and is being taken to the hospital by him. Since he had nothing to give, the driving man removed the ring the sleeping man was wearing and handed it over to Michael. On learning this, Ravi realises that the sleeping man was Surendra and that he was already dead, while the man driving was his murderer. In exchange for tracking down Surendra's real murderer, Ravi offers the reward of ₹5 lakhs as well as Surendra's ring to Michael.  


In an attempt to save himself from going to the gallows, Ravi succeeds in escaping from the hospital in search of the real killer and is aided by Neela in his pursuit. As part of his mission, Ravi investigates the significant ring of Surendra Sinha that could lead back to the killer and experiences the arrival of Michael D'Souza ([[Pran]]), a kind-hearted and happy-go-lucky small-time thief, from his own logical procedural thinking. On learning of Ravi's plight, Michael pledges to help him nab the real culprit as he is the sole witness to Surendra Sinha's murder. On the fateful rainy night, Michael had threatened the driver of a car at gunpoint and had grabbed the same costly ring from him, unmindful of the fact that it belonged to the already dead Surendra Sinha on the backseat. Despite Michael's endeavour to identify the murderer, his friend and accomplice, Prakash ([[Mac Mohan]]), a black market dealer, advises Michael to sell out Ravi to Narendra Sinha as Surendra Sinha's murderer in exchange of the reward money. Michael now takes Prakash's advice and meets with Narendra Sinha at his mansion to strike the deal, where he is, however, shocked to identify Narendra Sinha as the driver of the car, whom he had threated at gunpoint and robbed Surendra Sinha's ring from. Realising that the killer of Surendra Sinha is none other than his own brother, Narendra Sinha, Michael claims to be knowing the truth of his crime and sets up the meeting point of an abandoned, ramshackle wooden cottage by the riverside in the hills of [[Maharashtra]] to settle the issue.  
However, Prakash advises Michael to betray Ravi and go to make a deal with Narendra, who will give him ₹5 lakhs for the information on the murderer. Michael visits Surendra's house to meet Narendra for the same, but is shocked to identify Narendra as the driver of the car, whom he had stolen Surendra's ring from. Seeing no other way out, Narendra admits that Surendra's wife, Mona (Ashoo), had an [[Affair|extramarital affair]] with him, which Surendra discovered on the rainy night and banished Narendra from the house. He also alleged that Narendra is his adopted brother, but a furious Narendra immediately retaliated by smashing [[glass bottle]]s on Surendra's [[head]], killing him instantly due to [[Head injury|head injuries]]. Narendra then threw Surendra's dead body off in the gutter, faked his kidnapping and ransom, and announced the reward of ₹5 lakhs to cover up his crime. After learning this, Michael agrees to hand over Ravi to Narendra in exchange for ₹7.5 lakhs. Michael instructs both Ravi and Narendra to reach an isolated cabin at the same time, where Ravi will find Surendra's real killer, and Narendra will find Ravi. Michael is now perplexed as he is aware that Ravi never murdered Surendra, and yet he admitted to the crime in the court.  


After Michael's departure from the mansion, Narendra Sinha recalls that Surendra Sinha's wife, Mona (Ashoo), had an extramarital affair with him, which Surendra Sinha discovered on the rainy night, and banished Narendra Sinha from his mansion, provoking an offended Narendra Sinha to immediately retaliate by smashing glass bottles on Surendra Sinha's head, killing him. At the meeting point, Ravi and Neela arrive to learn the identity of the murderer but are horrified to witness Narendra Sinha shooting Michael fatally in the stomach thrice. Nevertheless, the grievously injured and slowly dying Michael holds Narendra Sinha at gunpoint downright and confesses about his crime to Ravi, who immediately leaves Neela to hold the fort and drives desperately to bring a doctor back in time. While on his way back with a doctor, Ravi also leads Kulkarni and the police to the scene, and meets with Narendra Sinha in a clash, while Michael gives Kulkarni his testimony regarding Ravi's innocence and Narendra Sinha's crime, and breathes his last in Ravi's arms. As a result, Narendra Sinha is arrested and charged for both Surendra Sinha and Michael's murders and Ravi walks out a free man.
In an attempt to find out the truth about Ravi's strange actions, Michael visits Ravi's house to realise that Ravi took the blame of the murder just to provide for his family, and takes an [[oath]] that Ravi will return home to them. Later, Michael meets Narendra at the place where he had summoned him and Ravi. When Ravi and Neela arrive there, they are horrified to witness Narendra [[shooting]] three [[bullet]]s in the [[stomach]] of Michael, already aware that he will expose the truth about his crime. At this point, Ravi learns that the murderer of Surendra is none other than Narendra, Surendra's own brother. He drives away desperately to bring a doctor back in time, while a gravely injured Michael holds Narendra at gunpoint along with Neela during the time. As Ravi is returning with a doctor, Kulkarni and the police discover his car and pursue Ravi to the [[crime scene]]. As Michael's health deteriorates, Narendra attempts to escape, but Ravi appears on time and captures him. Michael provides his [[testimony]] to Kulkarni about Ravi's innocence and Narendra being Surendra's killer, and eventually dies in Ravi's arms. As a result, Kulkarni and the police arrest Narendra for both Surendra and Michael's murders, and [[Acquittal|acquitt]] Ravi from the charge of Surendra's murder. The film ends with the [[funeral]] of Michael when his oath of reuniting Ravi with his family is recalled.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as Ravi Khanna
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as Ravi Khanna
* [[Shaan (1980 film)|Parveen Babi]] as Neela Rajvansh
* [[Parveen Babi]] as Neela Rajvansh
* [[Pran]] as Michael D'Souza
* [[Pran (actor)|Pran]] as Michael D'Souza
* [[Farida Jalal]] as Renu Khanna (Ravi's younger sister)
* [[Farida Jalal]] as Renu Khanna (Ravi's sister)
* [[Sulochana Latkar]] as Mrs. Khanna (Ravi's mother)
* [[Sulochana Latkar]] as Mrs. Khanna (Ravi's mother)
* [[Satyen Kappu]] as Narendra Sinha
* [[Iftekhar]] as CID Inspector Khurana
* [[Jagdish Raj]] as Inspector Kulkarni
* [[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]] as Surendra Sinha
* [[Mac Mohan]] as Prakash (Michael's friend)
* [[Madan Puri]] as Mahipat Rai (Ravi's one-time accquaintance)
* Sajjan as Dr. Shah (Ravi's doctor)
* Alankar Joshi as Billu Khanna (Ravi's younger brother)  
* [[D. K. Sapru]] as Mr. Rajvansh (Neela's father)
* [[D. K. Sapru]] as Mr. Rajvansh (Neela's father)
* Shiv Kumar as Advocate Rane (Ravi's lawyer friend)
* [[Iftekhar]] as CID Inspector Khurana 
* [[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]] as Surendra Sinha (murder victim)
* [[Satyen Kappu]] as Narendra Sinha (Surendra's adopted younger brother and murderer)
*Mac Mohan]] as Prakash (Michael's friend)
* [[Sajjan (actor)|Sajjan]] as Dr. Shah (Ravi's doctor)
* [[Madan Puri]] as Mahipat Rai
* [[Alankar Joshi]] as Billu Khanna (Ravi's younger brother)
* [[Jagdish Raj]] as Inspector Kulkarni (Khurana's assistant)
* [[Shiv Kumar (actor)|Shiv Kumar]] as Advocate P. V. Rane (Ravi's friend)
* [[Sudhir (Hindi actor)|Sudhir]] as Sharma (Ravi's colleague)  
* [[Sudhir (Hindi actor)|Sudhir]] as Sharma (Ravi's colleague)  
* [[K. N. Singh]] as Prosecuting Attorney
===Cameo Appearances===
* [[Murad (actor)|Murad]] as [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] Judge
* [[K. N. Singh]] as Public Prosecutor for Ravi in court
* Ashoo as Mona Sinha (Surendra Sinha's widow)
* [[Murad (actor)|Murad]] as Judge who sentences Ravi to death in court
* Lalita Kumari as Sulakshana Rai (Mahipat Rai's wife)
* [[Ashoo]] as Mona Surendra Sinha (Surendra's widow)
* [[Lalita Kumari]] as Sulakshana Mahipat Rai (Mahipat's wife)
* [[Sabina (actress)|Sabina]] as Madhu (Mahipat's girlfriend)
* [[Anoop Kumar]] as Frightened Air Passenger


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
{| class="wikitable"
{{Track listing
|-
| extra_column = Singer(s)
! # !! Title !! Singer(s)
| title1 = Aadmi Jo Kehta Hai Aadmi Jo Sunta Hai
|-
| extra1 = [[Kishore Kumar]]
| 1
| all_lyrics = Anand Bakshi
| "Roothe Rab Ko Manana Aasan Hai"
| length1 =
| [[Mohammed Rafi]]<br/>Asha Bhosle
|-
| 2
| "Dekh Sakta Hoon Main Kuch Bhi Hote Hue" (Male Version)
| Kishore Kumar
|-
| 3
| "Aadmi Jo Kehta Hai Aadmi Jo Sunta Hai"
| Kishore Kumar
|-
| 4
| "Dekh Sakta Hoon Main Kuch Bhi Hote Hue" (Female Version)
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|-
| 5
| "Daaru Ki Botal Mein Kahe Paani Bharta Hai"
| Kishore Kumar
|}


==Success==
| title2 = Dekh Sakta Hoon Main Kuch Bhi Hote Hue
The film was a Hit at the box office.<ref>[http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=180&catName=MTk3NA== Box Office India] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922021128/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=180&catName=MTk3NA%3D%3D |date=22 September 2012 }}</ref>
| note2 = Male Version
| extra2 = Kishore Kumar
| length2 =
 
| title4 = Roothe Rab Ko Manana Aasan Hai
| extra4 = [[Mohammed Rafi]], [[Asha Bhosle]]
| length4 =
 
| title3 = Michael Daru Peeke Danga Karta Hai
| extra3 = Kishore Kumar
| length3 =
 
| title5 = Dekh Sakta Hoon Main Kuch Bhi Hote Hue
| note5 = Female Version
| extra5 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
| length5 =
}}


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
*[[Filmfare]] Supporting Actor Nomination--[[Pran (actor)|Pran]]
'''[[23rd Filmfare Awards]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/366907.cms |title=The Nominations - 1975 - the 49th Manikchand Filmfare Awards |website=filmfareawards.indiatimes.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040323041928/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/366907.cms |archive-date=23 March 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>'''
*[[Filmfare]] Supporting Actress Nomination--[[Farida Jalal]]<ref>http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/366907.cms{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
'''Nominated'''
 
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] – [[Pran (actor)|Pran]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] – [[Farida Jalal]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1974 films]]
[[Category:1974 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:1974 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1970s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1974 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]
[[Category:Films scored by Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Salim–Javed]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Salim–Javed]]
[[Category:Urdu-language films]]
[[Category:Urdu films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Urdu films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Indian films about cancer]]
[[Category:Indian films about cancer]]
[[Category:Fratricide in fiction]]
[[Category:Fiction about fratricide]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ravi Tandon]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ravi Tandon]]
[[Category:Urdu-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Films about siblicide]]

Latest revision as of 05:01, 4 March 2026

Majboor
Directed byRavi Tandon
Produced byPremji
Written bySalim-Javed
StarringAmitabh Bachchan
Parveen Babi
Pran
Farida Jalal
Sulochana Latkar
D. K. Sapru
Iftekhar
Satyen Kappu
Rehman
Mac Mohan
Music byLaxmikant–Pyarelal
Distributed by
Release date
  • 6 December 1974 (1974-12-06)
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Majboor (transl. Compelled) is a 1974 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Ravi Tandon. Written by Salim-Javed (Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar), the film is loosely inspired by two 1970 American films – Zig Zag and Cold Sweat. It stars an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Parveen Babi, Pran, Farida Jalal, Sulochana Latkar, D. K. Sapru, Iftekhar, Satyen Kappu, Rehman, and Mac Mohan. Salim-Javed had initially narrated the story of Majboor to Ramesh Sippy, who liked it but wanted to make a film on a larger scale, and it was Tandon who agreed to do and Sippy later made Sholay (1975) with the writer duo. The music was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi.

Majboor released on 6 December 1974, opening to positive reviews. A box office hit,[1] the film was later remade in Telugu by director K. Raghavendra Rao as Raja (1976), in Tamil as Naan Vazhavaippen (1979) and in Malayalam as Ee Kaikalil (1986).[2] The film was also an inspiration for the 2008 film Jimmy.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Ravi Khanna (Amitabh Bachchan) is a common man working as a travel agent and living happily with his widowed mother (Sulochana Latkar), wheelchair-using sister, Renu (Farida Jalal), and younger brother, Billu (Alankar Joshi). He is also due to get married with his girlfriend, Neela (Parveen Babi), who is the only daughter of a wealthy man, Mr. Rajvansh (D. K. Sapru). One night, a wealthy client, Surendra Sinha (Rehman), visits Ravi's office to collect the air tickets that have been reserved for him. Ravi notices a large emerald ring on the finger of Surendra, who also proceeds to offer a lift in his car to him as it has been raining heavily. Later, Ravi learns from the police that Surendra was apparently kidnapped that same night, and that the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of ₹5 lakhs from Surendra's younger brother, Narendra Sinha (Satyen Kappu). Narendra has agreed to pay the ransom to save his brother, but there is no news about Surendra again. Six months later, CID Inspector Khurana (Iftekhar) and Inspector Kulkarni (Jagdish Raj) shockingly discover Surendra's dead body in a gutter and visit Ravi's office for interrogation regarding the murder. Ravi is innocent, but nervous for Khurana and Kulkarni taking a keen interest in him, since he is the last known person to have met Surendra. He believes himself to be having an alibi and seeks legal advice from his lawyer friend, Advocate P. V. Rane (Shiv Kumar), for being a simple man with a family to be taken care of, and not willing to deal with the police and the courts.

However, the stress seems to be triggering several headaches which causes Ravi intense pain for a couple of minutes. After a second episode, he takes it seriously enough to visit Dr. Shah (Sajjan) and undergoes an X-ray of his brain. The shocking diagnosis is that Ravi has a brain tumour that needs to be extracted immediately through a brain surgery, and if not, will cause his death within six months. Ravi is willing to undergo the brain surgery, but Dr. Shah states that it could either cure him completely, or could result in very unintended side-effects from blindness to mental illness to paralysis. Ravi is shattered for having many responsibilities on his mother, sister, and brother, and feels that he neither has the right to die nor become a burden on them. As a result, Ravi leaves without making a decision when the choices are death and a life worse than death. At the same time, he receives the interesting news of the grieving Narendra having declared a handsome reward of ₹5 lakhs (which he was previously ready to pay to his brother's kidnappers) to the person who will help him capture Surendra's murderer. In an attempt to better his family's financial conditions after him, Ravi comes up with a scheme to frame himself for Surendra's murder and collect the reward money for his family, justifying that he has nothing to lose himself and is going to die in six months nevertheless. He anonymously calls Khurana at the police station as an informer about Surendra's murder, who declares Ravi as the culprit and instructs the police to deposit the money at the office of his solicitor, Rane. As a result, a desperate Narendra agrees to pay out the reward after Khurana informs him about the anonymous telephone call.

Meanwhile, Ravi also sends an anonymous letter at Rane's office, instructing him to open the letter and follow its instructions only after Surendra's killer has been sentenced by the court. He also plants circumstantial evidence (his burnt shirt, cigarette butts, pieces of rope and an iron rod with his fingerprints) to prove that Ravi kidnapped Surendra, brought him to an isolated place, and then killed him with an iron rod. Acting upon the received information, Khurana and Kulkarni recover the evidence and arrest Ravi after fingerprint testing. During the trial, Ravi falsely confesses in the court that he kidnapped Surendra for the ransom of ₹5 lakhs, tied him up at the isolated place, and when Surendra tried to escape, he accidentally killed him and threw his dead body off in the gutter. As a result, Ravi is sentenced to death by the court, devastating his family, Neela and her father. Moreover, Ravi's mother and Neela's attempts to make some sense out of Ravi's confession and also request Narendra for clemency fail miserably. However, things take a drastic turn when Ravi suffers from another headache episode in prison and is rushed by Khurana and Kulkarni to the hospital, where, serendipitously, it is Dr. Shah who examines him. Aware of Ravi's medical history, Dr. Shah wastes no time in performing an emergency surgery of his brain, which miraculously ends up a successful with no side-effects. Nevertheless, it is too late now as Ravi is now a convicted criminal for kidnapping, ransom and murder, which he planted on himself.

Two months later, Ravi summons Neela and Rane for a permitted meeting at the hospital and confesses about his innocence. However, Rane states that now there is no way out and that they will need fresh evidence to reopen the case. In an attempt to save himself from execution, Ravi successfully escapes from the hospital on the mission to search for Surendra's real murderer and is aided by Neela in his pursuit. The couple escapes to a hotel to safety, where Ravi meets a wealthy man, Mahipat Rai (Madan Puri), who has a girlfriend, Madhu (Sabina), despite being married to a millionaire wife, Sulakshana (Lalita Kumari). Ravi notices that Mahipat is shockingly wearing the same ring he had noticed on Surendra's finger. On being questioned by Ravi, Mahipat reveals that the ring was sold to him by a curio shop owner, Prakash (Mac Mohan). With the help of Prakash, Ravi traces the origin of the ring to Michael D'Souza (Pran), a kind-hearted and happy-go-lucky professional thief, whom Prakash had purchased the ring from. Ravi meets Michael and confronts him over Surendra's ring, when Michael confesses of stealing the ring but claims to be the sole witness to Surendra's murder. On that rainy night, Michael had prevented the way of a car with a man driving and another man sleeping on the backseat, and had threatened the driving man at gunpoint. The driving man claimed that the sleeping man is his friend, who is sick and is being taken to the hospital by him. Since he had nothing to give, the driving man removed the ring the sleeping man was wearing and handed it over to Michael. On learning this, Ravi realises that the sleeping man was Surendra and that he was already dead, while the man driving was his murderer. In exchange for tracking down Surendra's real murderer, Ravi offers the reward of ₹5 lakhs as well as Surendra's ring to Michael.

However, Prakash advises Michael to betray Ravi and go to make a deal with Narendra, who will give him ₹5 lakhs for the information on the murderer. Michael visits Surendra's house to meet Narendra for the same, but is shocked to identify Narendra as the driver of the car, whom he had stolen Surendra's ring from. Seeing no other way out, Narendra admits that Surendra's wife, Mona (Ashoo), had an extramarital affair with him, which Surendra discovered on the rainy night and banished Narendra from the house. He also alleged that Narendra is his adopted brother, but a furious Narendra immediately retaliated by smashing glass bottles on Surendra's head, killing him instantly due to head injuries. Narendra then threw Surendra's dead body off in the gutter, faked his kidnapping and ransom, and announced the reward of ₹5 lakhs to cover up his crime. After learning this, Michael agrees to hand over Ravi to Narendra in exchange for ₹7.5 lakhs. Michael instructs both Ravi and Narendra to reach an isolated cabin at the same time, where Ravi will find Surendra's real killer, and Narendra will find Ravi. Michael is now perplexed as he is aware that Ravi never murdered Surendra, and yet he admitted to the crime in the court.

In an attempt to find out the truth about Ravi's strange actions, Michael visits Ravi's house to realise that Ravi took the blame of the murder just to provide for his family, and takes an oath that Ravi will return home to them. Later, Michael meets Narendra at the place where he had summoned him and Ravi. When Ravi and Neela arrive there, they are horrified to witness Narendra shooting three bullets in the stomach of Michael, already aware that he will expose the truth about his crime. At this point, Ravi learns that the murderer of Surendra is none other than Narendra, Surendra's own brother. He drives away desperately to bring a doctor back in time, while a gravely injured Michael holds Narendra at gunpoint along with Neela during the time. As Ravi is returning with a doctor, Kulkarni and the police discover his car and pursue Ravi to the crime scene. As Michael's health deteriorates, Narendra attempts to escape, but Ravi appears on time and captures him. Michael provides his testimony to Kulkarni about Ravi's innocence and Narendra being Surendra's killer, and eventually dies in Ravi's arms. As a result, Kulkarni and the police arrest Narendra for both Surendra and Michael's murders, and acquitt Ravi from the charge of Surendra's murder. The film ends with the funeral of Michael when his oath of reuniting Ravi with his family is recalled.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Cameo Appearances[edit | edit source]

  • K. N. Singh as Public Prosecutor for Ravi in court
  • Murad as Judge who sentences Ravi to death in court
  • Ashoo as Mona Surendra Sinha (Surendra's widow)
  • Lalita Kumari as Sulakshana Mahipat Rai (Mahipat's wife)
  • Sabina as Madhu (Mahipat's girlfriend)
  • Anoop Kumar as Frightened Air Passenger

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

All lyrics are written by Anand Bakshi.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Aadmi Jo Kehta Hai Aadmi Jo Sunta Hai"Kishore Kumar 
2."Dekh Sakta Hoon Main Kuch Bhi Hote Hue" (Male Version)Kishore Kumar 
3."Michael Daru Peeke Danga Karta Hai"Kishore Kumar 
4."Roothe Rab Ko Manana Aasan Hai"Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle 
5."Dekh Sakta Hoon Main Kuch Bhi Hote Hue" (Female Version)Lata Mangeshkar 

Awards and nominations[edit | edit source]

23rd Filmfare Awards:[3]

Nominated

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Box Office India Archived 22 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman, Rajnikanth: The Definitive Biography. India: Penguin Books (2012).
  3. ↑ "The Nominations - 1975 - the 49th Manikchand Filmfare Awards". filmfareawards.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

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